WHAT'S BUZZIN

'Nigerians don't appreciate their own' and other mixed reactions to Samuel Eto'o's bold Okocha/Ronaldinho comparison

David Ben 11:37 - 22 February 2022

Nigerians have reacted to Samuel Eto'o's claim that Okocha and Ronaldinho were on the same level in their playing days

Mixed reactions on social media have continued to trail Samuel Eto'o's claim that Nigerian legend Jay-Jay Okocha was equally as talented as Brazilian great, Ronaldinho.

African footballing legend and President of the Cameroon Football Federation Samuel Eto'o has weighed in on age-old debate on two of football's greatest legends of all time - Nigeria's Austin Jay-Jay Okocha and Brazil's Ronaldinho Gaucho.

Ronaldinho and Okocha were teammates at PSG

Okocha and Ronaldinho are no doubt two of football's most talented players of all time.

The two legends in their playing days notorious for their incredible dribbling as well as their ridiculous technique and skill.

Okocha and Ronaldinho once shared the dressing room in the 2001/2002 season with French giants Paris St Germain before the former eventually left for English side - Bolton Wanderers.

Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha

Okocha was instrumental in helping Africa win it's first ever Olympic goals with the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Atlanta '96 Olympics and also helped Nigeria win the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994.

Ronaldinho Ballon d'Or

Ronaldinho on the other hand has won a World Cup and an Olympic bronze medal in 2008 alongside two FIFA World Player of the Year awards as well as a Ballon d’Or.

However, Eto'o has claimed in a recent statement that he believes that Okocha is on the same level as his ex-PSG teammate Ronaldinho, citing a possible football injustice as to why the former isn't getting the due recognition he deserves.

Samuel Eto'o

"It’s the injustice of world football,”

"They are in the same class'

“What we saw Ronaldinho do a few years ago, Jay-Jay Okocha had done 10 or 15 years before and he never had the recognition of others. And that’s what happens when it comes to Africa.” Eto'o said as per Onvoitout.

Nigerians have continued to react to Eto'o's claim in a series of mixed reactions from popular social media platform Twitter:

Comparing ronaldinho and jay jay okocha is disrespectful to gaucho
— toke_punter (@toke_punter) February 22, 2022

Eto'o should drop the cap. Okocha never had impact on the game like Dinho. https://t.co/8cKylpcBkD
— Brown (@VicendaPrintz) February 22, 2022

Samuel Eto’o was right about Jay Jay Okocha being underrated having done what Ronaldinho did 10-15 years earlier.
— AA (@waheedganiy) February 22, 2022

I had this argument a lot when both were still active..Some even go as far as saying Okocha taught Ronaldinho everything he knew. No statement could reek of more ignorance.Okocha may be the most skilful player Africa has ever had but R10 is the most the world has ever seen.
— Umar Sa'ad Hassan🇳🇬 (@Alaye_100) February 22, 2022

Eto play with Ronaldinho and played against Okocha before making his remarks about Okocha, but Kunle from Agege, that doesn’t even have a passport thinks Eto is capping.
— Vique (@viqueta) February 22, 2022

Everything is injustice and discrimination. Ronaldinho this, Okocha that, next thing na injustice. So other people can't be better than Africans unless there's injustice?
— Wale (@TheWaleAgbede) February 22, 2022

We need to tell ourself the truth without minding whose ox is gored. Okocha was good but Ronaldinho was better. Both skillfull in their own way but Ronaldinho stood out. Yes Okocha is ours but the truth shouldn't be left untold.
— Mayor of Lagos.... (@MayowaOlubunmi) February 22, 2022

My take in Jay Jay Okocha saga 😭

Most of our own generations are under 16 in thoughts and comparisms. All we do now is to compare and belittle our older persons achievements and good histories while we ourselves lack in talent and seriousness and have not even gone anywhere. https://t.co/zn2zObZz2R
— Victor CHIGBU (@victorchigbuU) February 22, 2022

Okocha and Ronaldinho were gifted players who made football a beautiful game - with tricks and flicks - beyond just goals.

I miss having such players in today's football cos of the craze for "only" assists and goals.

The comparison part doesn't concern me right now.
— Chuma Nnoli (@ChumaNnoli) February 22, 2022

Y'all saying Okocha couldn't do what Ronaldinho did obviously never watched Jay Jay, guy used to single handedly punish big teams, even has a skill named. After him...drop the cap
— Seyi3000 (@seyii_ayeni) February 22, 2022

Africans, especially Nigerians don't appreciate their own. Most people critiquing Eto’o assertion on Okocha are Nigerians 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️
— NoisyPromoter7️⃣ (@NoisyPromoter) February 22, 2022

Okocha never impacted the game the way Ronaldinho did. Dinho was scoring and setting up goals that led to his team's success at a very high level while Okocha was doing freestyle tricks at Bolton and Fernabache.

Stop this nonsense https://t.co/r6mLecpcym
— Wale (@TheWaleAgbede) February 22, 2022

Be like say this one no watch okocha lmao https://t.co/pvnanSnlZA
— 𝗪𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐬𝗬𝐨𝐦𝐦y? (@yommy_presh) February 22, 2022